Climatologic data from the 'Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia' (INMET) and 'Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica' (ANEEL) were used in the water balance model associated with a geographical information system in order to generate a number of thematic maps of Minas Gerais State regarding the classes of the true irrigation demand (total demand) and the demand for actual supplemental irrigation (supplemental demand) for corn crop (Zea mays L). A map was generated, where the differences between the total irrigation demand and the supplemental one were registered to verify the usefulness of including the contribution of the rainfall in an irrigation project for Minas Gerais State, besides another thematic map in which the cost of not considering the effect of rainfall in the project management was included.
supplemental irrigation; SIG; cost
